THE EFFECT OF FEEDING DRIED TOMATO VINES TO BEEF-CATTLE

Dried tomato vines (DTV) are used as a feedstuff in some herds of beef cattle in Israel, despite the literature citations that tomato vines contain potentially harmful steroid alkaloids. A small-scale feeding t rial over 42 d examined possible deleterious effects of feeding DTV, c ompared with wheat straw, in beef cows No differences in hematological values, serum parameters or body weight were seen between the 2 group s. Steroid alkaloid content of the DTV was not examined, but toxic lev els of nitrates were found. The main practical hazard in feeding DTV w ould appear to be from their potentially high nitrate content.